Scaling highest mountain in Hong Kong

Scaling the highest mountain in Hong Kong , Tai Mo Shan with an altitude of 957m, may sound daunting. But it is not. For there is a road all the way up to the mountain with a comfortable gradient. However, it is a vehicular road, allowing cars to use so walkers must be careful. From the starting point I have chosen, i.e. the intersection between Tai Mo Shan Road (大帽山路) and Route Twisk (荃錦公路), it is a less than 2 hr hike.

View from the top:From Tai Mo Shan you can hike to Lead Mine Pass, which is about 2 hours. The landscape dotted by volcano rocks is amazing. This part of the route is most interesting, for the rock scene, the landscape and the pleasure of walking on a dirt path.

The last part of the route is easy, from Lead Mine Pass to Shing Mun Reservoir, which is about 1 hour 15 minute walk. It is concrete road all along with shady green.

Overall the route is highly recommended, especially for the first two parts. The hike is five hours in total.

How to get to the starting point (intersection between Tai Mo Shan Road and Route Twisk):

Take bus No. 51 at the bus terminal next to Tsuen Wan West MTR station (West Rail Line). Get off at country park stop. Walk downhill to the first intersection where Tai Mo Shan Road intersects with Route Twisk. Walk up the concrete road for about 1 hour 40 minutes and you will reach the highest possible point – not the very top where Hong Kong Government’s radio facility is located, a forbidden area.

Once you are at the highest point possible, turn to the right to go downhill and soon, you will come to a crossroads with a trail sign.

At this crossroads, turn right.

Turn right to continue. You are now on the way to Lead Mine Pass. Once you reach Lead Mine Pass, go in the direction of “Tsuen Wan” (荃灣), and you will be led to Shing Mun Reservoir and then station of mini bus No. 52 at the end of the reservoir after about a 1-hour walk. The bus will bring you to Tsuen Wan, where you can hop on the MTR train.